Bumper



Patented Apr. 1%, 1923.

' FRANK N. norm, or rnrnr, MICHIGAN, Assrenor. re A o SPARK PLUGCOMPANY, or I FLINT, ivrronrean, acorrranv or MICHIGAN.

' BUMrEn.

.A'pplicationfiled Octoberfil, 1926. semi No. 143,190.

My invention relates to an improvement in impact cushioning fendersrorbi'unpers for. automobiles.

One of the primary objects ofcthe invention is to provide an economicaland simplie liedconstruction, capable of withstanding hard usage, andeffectively cushioning shocks, and which will be of general applicationto all makes and types of automobiles, either on the front or rear. 1 c

Other objects and advantages willbe parent-from the followingspeoificationand accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a top .planview of the bumper forming the present-subject matter, attached on thefront of an automobile;

Fig. 2 is' a similar top plan viewshowing the arrangement of the bracebar for attachment to the rear end of an automobile;

gig. 3 is a front elevationlof the bumper; an

'Fig. is an enlarged detail view of the brace bar.

Referring tothe drawing, illustrating the preferred embodiment of theinvention, the reference character 1 indicates the resilient impact orshock receiving element, which may be a single spring steel bar, butfor, in creased strength, preferably consists of two vertically spacedbars. To maintain such impact bars in proper spaced relation, a connecting member or metal strap 22 is provided at each end, andintermediate such ends, toward the center of the bars, are located thestraps 33. A pair of S-shaped or tortuous brace bars are'positionedopposite the space intermediate the pair of impact bars, one at eachside,'the opposite brace bars being bolted or otherwise attached to therespective straps 23. Clips 4 clamp the brace bars to thesupportingbracket arms 5 secured to the automobile frame.-

Each tortuous or S-shaped brace bar, preferably consists of a singleflat bar of spring 7 steel, bent into its ogee or double reverse 3'curved form, resulting in a straight intermediate portion 6, reverselycurved or bent upon itselfat 7 and 8 to form the straight end portionsorterminal legs 9 and 10, the leg 10 being somewhatlonger than the leg 9.Either the end of the'long leg 10 or the end of the short'leg 9 may befitted to straps 2 and 3. That is, the attachment relation is reversibleend for end. Such alternate arrangement is shown in Figs. 1 andi2, Fig.1

showing the assembly of thebumper for'attachment to the front of anautomobile, and Fig. 2-the reverse assembly for the rear.

That is, in Fig; 1- the long leg 10 of each brace bar is attached to thespacer strap 2 and the shorter leg 9 tothe spacer, strap 3,

.while in 2 the long leg 10 is'fastened to the strap. 3and the short leg9 to the strap 2.

As a general rule, thelongitudilnal' frame" different lengthsof brace blegs'g and whichalso affects the spaced relationof the tortuous bodiesof theres'pective brace'rods.

The space betweenthe curves 88 in Fig. 1

is materially less'than'the space between curves 7-7 in Fig. 2. Thesmaller space provides ample room atthe front of, the car for theoperation of a hand crank to'start the engine. while the, reversearrangement gives the'necessary increased spacefor access to the sparetire usually carried at the rear, while both arrangements permit themounting of the bumper close to the frame so as not to project undulybeyond the frontvand rear of the automobile.

From the above description it willbe apparent that there is thusprovided a bumper of few parts, and which will be standard for allapplications, eliminating the neoessit'y'for manufacturers and dealerscarrying large stocks of various types and special sizes of bumpers. V Ia lVhile' the invention, has been described more or less specifically.it-is tobeunderas'come withinthe scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim: 1. A vehicle bumper including anogee curved brace bar, one leg of which is longer than the other leg,and an impact bar carrespective legs, the relation of theiattachstoodthat such modifications may be made I ments being reversible ,toaccommodate various vehicle frame widths;

2. A vehicle bumper including aipair of 'S-shaped brace bars, therespective legs of each bar being'of different length, and an impact barhaving fixedfipoints of attach- 1 ried by the brace bar andattachedtothe ment for the legs, the attachment of the re-' spective legs beinginterchangeable to vary the relation of the" two brace bars.

3. vehicle bumper including a' resilient. impact member. and a pair ofresilient brace members, eachbrace member consistingof a adapted forconnection With' either: anencbor: an intermediate portion ot theimpact. membe'r, such;alternate' connection:permitting variat-ion: in-tl1e space :between the tortuous bdrliesiofth'e:respective brace:members:

other, and an impact elementyth'e endsmfs 4:."A vehiolesbumpenincludinga pair of" I V impact me1nbe1*.-a11di a pan of resilient brace members,each brace memberconsisting of;

Seshaped brace' bars tOcbeLearried one on eachcside oi- :thevelnoleframe, each -cons1st-,

ing of; a singlegstripeotrspning metal hav mg; an intermedlate tstralghtz portion 0011- neeted'by reverse curves to two straightendport-ions,\1oi1e. :of i which is longer: than the which 1 are'respective-lyl attachable to either endportioniofzone of said bracebars,:the

otheraendcportion:of such brace 'bar being" attachablectol anintermediate. portion of the '7 impact v element,z whereby anunobstructed space v is deft between" :the respective brace bars;the-size-of such space beingdependent upon". whether the long OI' shortend portions r of the brace bars are attached to the ends of theimpactelement. V

5. A vehicle bumper including a resilient :impact member and a pair ofresilient brace members, each bracemember.1cons1st1ng oi an intermediatespring portion with end lengths, each end portion being adapted forconnection with definite points of attachment'on the 'impact'member, thevariation 111 length of the end portionspermittmg varxation in thespaced relation. of the brace memtion's. I i

6. L A vehicle bumper includingca resilient portions extendingtherebeyond to different bers1 by reverse attachment of vthe s endporan:- intermediate 1 spring portion with end. 5

portions extending therebeyond to diit'erent. lengths, either ofsaid-end portions being at-,: tachable to a fixedqipointn-of'connectionon= a the imp aet 'member, whereby the attachment iof oneend portionprovides anintervening 1 space betweenrthe spring" portions of the twobrace members, that differs from that provided :bythe attachment of theother iend portion.

In testimony whereotl aflix mvsignature.

FRANK N. Nears-1

